Electrical signaling-horn.



W. W. DEAN.

-ELECTRICAL SIGNALING HORN.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 28, 1912. 1,233,651 Patented July 17, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

YZ-YUQZZZI: m ME i n lll W. W. DEAN.

ELECTRCAL SIGNALING HORN.

APPLICATION f'lLED OCT, 28, 1912.

Patented July 17, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WAN@ .E a

UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. DEAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T0 KELLOGG SWITCHBOARD AND SUPPLY COMPANY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

ELECTRICAL SIGNALING-HORN.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 17, 1917.

Application led October 28, 1912. Serial No. 728,085.

To all whom z't may concern.'

Be it known that I, WILLIAM W. DEAN, a citizen of the United States, residing in Chicago, county of Cook, and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful 1mprovements in Electrical Signaling-Horns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to signaling horns suoli as are usually employed on automobiles or motor boats for warning signals, my invention being more particularly directed to electrical signaling horns in which a vibratile member, suoli as a diaphragm is operated by an electromagnetic device, an object of my invention being to provide `a signal horn of the class described'which is more simple of construction, efficient in operation, compact and readily adjustable, certain features thereof being more particution including the appended claims.

In signaling horns it is desirable to prov vide a device which will give the most effective sound'and therefore it is desirable to secure a loud and penetrating sound and at the same time make thedevice compact and to operate in a most efiicient manner by the least current consumption.

I have found that by providing a dia-v phragm and a retractile spring, and supporting a hammer member between said diaphragm and spring ,in such a manner that said diaphragm and spring are. flexed, by reciprocating the hammer member at a rate equal to the natural rate of vibration of the diaphragm, most eilicient results are obtained.

For a more complete understanding of my invention reference is to be had to th accompanying drawings in which;

Figure l is a rear elevation of a signaling horn embodying my invention, shown with the yrear cap removed;

Fig. 2 is a cross section along the line 2, 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the lami' nated core of the electromagnet;

Fig. '4 illustrates the manner in which th Fig. 6 is a section through the lcenter of; one of the removable terminal binding,

posts Fig. 7, is a sectional view along' the line 7, 7 of Fig. 1 illustrating'the manner in which the interrupter contact springs are insulatingly mounted;

Fig. 8, shows a spring ring used for holding the removable portion of the terminal in place;

Fig. 9 illustrates in perspective a split washer such as is used underscrew heads and nuts of the device "to prevent their becoming loose;l

Fig. 10, is a face view of Fig. 2 showing a portion only of the bell extending from the front of the device;

Fig. 11, `is an enlarged'sectional view showing the preferred manner of clamping the diaphragm;

Fig. 12 shows a modified method of manufacturing the main frame or casing;

Fig. 13 is a partial view of the device showing the manner inwhich the retractile spring is supported and attached to the armature;

Fig. 14 is a left end view of Fig. 13;

Fig. 15 is a face view of, an actuating switch with the front cap removed;

Fig. 16 'is a cross section along the line 16, 16 of Fig. 15 but with the capand buttoi-i .-in" place, and

Fig. 17 illustrates diagrammatically :a manner of connecting the device in circuit for operation.

Referring now more in detail, the device illustrated comprises la main casing A havinga tubular body ortion 11 and a face plate 12 preferably ormed integral therewith. A pair of ears 13 are formed integral with. the casing A being bent inwardlyas indicated in Fig. 13. A contact spring supporting ear 14 is also preferably formed integral with the body portion l? being bent inwardly as indicated in Fig. 2. The rear. end of the portion l1 is threaded and adapted to receive a cap 2. .A front cap 3 is also provided having a central opening formed outwardly and adapted to be secured toa bell 4 in a suitable manner. The front cap 3 is preferably formed of sheet metaland has its outer edge turned over to fit'snugly over the rim 15 of the casing A.

A diaphragm 5 preferably constructed of thin sheet steel and having an oiled-silk protecting member 6, is held between a pair of flexible .rings 7, 8 and then clamping Ascrews 9 are passed through front cap 3 `and threaded into the rim 'to securely hold the diaphragm. A fastening'bracket 10 of anysuitable construction is provided ,and

the clamping screws 9 are equidistantly allow the excursion of water which may blow into the bell. Due to the spacing of screws 9 the front cap may be alwaysl clamped in such a position that the ventl 31 is at its lowest point.-

In Fig. 12, I have method of constructing the casing VA in which the cylindrical portion 11 and face plate l2 may be separate parts and held together in any suitable manner, preferably by rivets, not shown. t

The electromagnet I preferably construct with a core B, of U shape, having converging poles 13, 14, said core.v being built up of thin sheets 15 as is indicated more clearly in Fig. 3. By bringing the poles 13, 14 together I am enabled to use -a shorter armature and still allow s/uiicient room for holdinga coil 16 of greaternumber of turns.

It will be apparent that with agiven transverse section of the armature, the shorter the armature the lighter its weight thus less power is needed to drive it at a definite speed. With the two cores of magnet B converging a comparatively short armature can be used.

Anarmature 17 is suitably held in operative position with respect to the poles 13, 14 of the electromagnet, said armature being preferably suspended from a retractile spring 18 comprisingv a plurality of thin spring members.v 'To suspend said armature lfrom the said retractile spring I preferably` provide a screw stud '19 which threads ears 13., being secured thereto by means of saddle clamps 25 and clamping screws 26. A shim 27 is placedvbetween the spring 18 and ear 13 to bring the spring 18 and armature 17 in proper relation to the poles of the electromagnet B. Itis well known that in the ordinary `process of'manufacture of the illustrated another l A. layer of insulation 21 liesvarious parts of a device like applicants, inaccuracies or slight differences in size of theparts frequently occur and in order to bring the armature 17 and spring 18 in proper relation to the poles of magnet B should such inaccuracies occur, shims -27 of different thicknesses are provided and used accordingly.

In vibrating a flat spring of substantial thickness, which is rigidly held at its opposite ends, it will be apparent that with any substantial vibration there will be a tendency to rupture the metal dueto a surface tensile strain and to materially overcome this I provide 1a plurality of thin flat springs to form the member 18 and then secure such member at its opposite ends to ears A13. These ears are'also capable of vibration to allow a variation of the distancesjbetween the two points of fastening when'the spring 18 is vibrated.' By using a plurality of comparatively thin flat springs, this 'surface tensile strain is materially lessened with a given amplitude of vibration. Another advantage in using a plurality of springs in making up the retractile spring 18, -is that the number used may be varied magnet may be varied to conform more nearly to the natural rate of the diaphragm carried preferably integral with the stud and extension, said hammer being of a larger ,face area than the stud whereby the blow delivered to the diaphragm upon each vibration of the armature, acts upon thelarger ysurface and it has been found that this has an advantagel over a smaller faced hammer whereby the rate of operation of the electroin thatless wear results. The stud 19 is so I adjusted, in assembling the device, that the retractile spring 18 and 'diaphragm 3 are outwardly flexed as shown iny Figs.v 2 and 13.

Independently wound coils 16 are preferably provided for. the magnet core B, said coils being slipped over their. respective pole pieces. A pair of brackets 28, 29 are provided for supporting core B said brackets Vbeing adapted to clamp the sheets of clore B together by the use of clamping screws 30 as shown in Fig. 2. Brackets 28, 29 are then attached by means of screws 31 to the face plate 12.

` To hold the coils 16 in their proper position upon the core B, I preferablyemploy a spring clamp 32 (Fig. 5)'having a portion 321 bent atan obtuse angle. Before the brackets 28, 29 are. fastened to the face plate *i 12, plate 32 is inserted between a coil 16 and its pole piece 13 or 14, asvindic'ated in Fig 4, whereby when the brackets 28, 29 are. v drawn against the face plate 12, the portion ff'13n tion although they may vary slightly in dimensions. A hole 151 is drilled through the yoke of magnet B, to allow the extension 191,

which connects the hammer 192 and armature 17, to pass through as shown in Fig. 2.

ln order to use a source of direct current to operate the magnet.' I provide an interrupter C comprising a vibratile Contact spring 33 and an adjustable stationary contact 34 threaded into a supporting piece 35 and locked in adjustment by a lock nut 36. Pieces 35 and 33 are attached to the ear 12, being insulatingly mounted thereon and held by clamping screws 37. Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the cent-ers of screws 37 and illustrates the manner in which the contact pieces are insulated from each other and from the casing. A tapped plate 38 is provided for receiving the clamping screws 37 as shown in Fig. 7. A terminal piece 39 and washer 40 are secured in electrical contact with the stationary contact carrying piece 35, and vibratile contact spring 33 carries a terminal 33l as shown in Fig. 2.

lVhen current is passed through the windings of the electromagnet, armature 17 is attracted and the contact actuating piece carried thereby moves Contact 33 away from contact 34 to interrupt the circuit of the electromagnet in a well known manner.

A pair of terminal binding posts D are provided preferably of a snap type, each one comprising a central stud 42 embedded in a body portion 43 composed of some insulation material as rubber, said stud being slotted at 422 to form a spring tip. A thumb screw is used comprising a handle portion 44, preferably composed of an insulation material, and a screw portion 45, said screw portion being adapted to thread into a tapped end of stud An opening 431 is provided whereby the conductor may be inserted and clamped between the iiange 45l and stud 42. An insulating block 47 is at tached to the inner surface of casing A by means of a screw 48 as shown in Fig. 2, said screw passing through the block 47 and threai'ling into the wall of casing A. Binding post D is a .so-called snap type binding post. that is. the portion which carries the external wires or conductors ma)r be readil pulled out of connect-ion with the stationa r v part of the terminal. The stationary part which is supj'iorted by the block 47 comprises a metallic sleeve 49 having a threaded .stud end 491 which passes through block 47. ,i terminal cli p 5() is placed beneath the nut said nut 5l, acting to securely hold the sleeve 4U. An insulating sleeve 55 incloses the sleeve 49, said parts 49, 55 being set in a counter bore in block 47. To prevent the removable part of the binding post from jarring out, corresponding annular grooves 492 and 422 are out in terminal sleeve 49 and spring tip 42 respectively and a spring wire ring 52, (shown in Fig. 8) is forced into the annular groove 492 and said ring is so proportioned that it will open to allow the tip 42 to be inserted into sleeve 49 until grooves 492, 422 register when said ring springs into the groove 422 thus holding the removable part of the terminal.

To withdraw the removable part of the binding post, the part 43 is grasped between the fingers and pulled outwardly. The ring 52 is thus spread by the action of groove 422 allowing the withdrawal of tip 42.

In Figs. l5, 16, I have illustrated a controlling switch which comprises a cup or main casing having a. saddle clamp 6l attached to the rear thereof by means of screws 62 whereby' the switch may be attached to the starting wheel. Of course any other suitable fastening device may be used. A ring 63 is inserted into the periphery of casing 60, and an insulation bushing 64 is forced into ring 63. A stationary Contact carrying piece 65 and a spring contact terminal 66 are insulatingly fastened to casing 60 by means of screws 67, a terminal screw 651 being provided for terminal piece 65 and a terminal screw 661 being provided for contact spring 66. A button 68 preferably of some insulation material is supported by the cap 69, said cap being held against casing 60 by means of screws 7 O which pass through the cap 69 and thread into the casing 66. Contact spring 66 presses against the bottom of button 68 so that when said button is depressed spring 66 and contact 65 are moved into engagement and when the pressure upon button 68 is released contact spring 66 restores also disengaging itself from the contact piece 65.

In order to eliminate. the sparking of the interrupter contacts, a condenser E is employed, said condenser comprising an outer casing 70 having caps 71, 72. A pair of bushings 73. 74 are inserted into the sides of the casing 70 through which conductors 75, 76 pass in extending from the terminals of the condenser to the terminals of the interrupter contacts. A lugr 761 (Fig. 2) is fastened to the bottom cap 72 of the condenser and a stud extended therefrom through an opening in the face plate l2 wherebyr a nut 77 may be threaded on to said stud to hold the condenser. in position within the casing.

ln Fig. 17 l have illustrated diagramn'iatirall)y the signaling horn connected in an operating circuit.. said operating circuit including a batter)v 73 connected between the push button switch and the operating mechanism of the signaling horn. When the button 68 is depressed, contacts 65, 66 are closed and a circuit is closed through the winding of the electromagnet causing an attraction of the armature 17. This movement of the armature causes a further iexure of the diaphragm 5, the att-racting movement of the armature being assisted by the action of the spring 18. The attraction of the armature causes the interruption of contacts 33, 34 and the circuit of the electromagnet is broken.

Upon denergization of the electromagnet, armature 17 is free to retract, and therefore retractile spring 18 assisted by diaphragm 5, which is pressed against the hammer 19, starts the return movement of the armature and hammer. Due to the momentum of the armature and hammer gained by the retracting movement, hammer 192 draws away from the diaphragm 5 and at this time contacts 33, 34 being again closed the electromagnet is energized attracting the armature and thus causing the hammer 19 to strike the diaphragm another blow, the continued attracting movement of the armature Vholding the hammer against the diaphragm and thus causing anextreme outward lexure thereof. This vibratory operation is 'of course continued as long as the circuit of the magnet is held\closed. In order to secure the most effective and penetrating sound of the device, I adjust the armature, contact springs, retractile spring, and hammer, so that the rate of vibration of the electromagnet armature corresponds to the rate of vibration of the diaphragm.

Although I have illustrated and described my invention in a particular embodiment, it will be apparent that many details of construction may be changed and modifica tions made and therefore I do not desire to be limited to the exact structure as illustrated and described but aim to cover all that which comes within the spirit and scope of .the appended claims.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent, is:

1. A signaling horn comprising a face plate, a diaphragm peripherally secured to the front thereof, a U-shaped electromagnet having its yokeJ end secured adjacent the rear of said face plate intra-peripherally to said diaphragm yand having the open ends of the pole pieces converging and extending rearwardly, a hammer member for said diaphragm, an elongated iat retractile spring suitably supported at its opposite ends, an armature attached to said Isprin at the center thereofand operatively relate to the free ends of the pole pieces, and a connecting member between said armature and hammer.

2. A signaling horn including a front supporting plate, a diaphragm peripherally secured to the front thereof, a U-shap'ed electromagnet having its yoke end secured adjacent the rear of said supporting plate intra-peripherally to said diaphragm and having the open ends of the pole pieces converging and extending rearwardly, a retractile spring suitably supported at its opposite ends, xa hammer supported between said spring and diaphragm under normal tension thereof and adjustably fastenedto vthe said spring, andan armature for said electromagnet operatively associated with said hammer, said armature being adapted to be vibrated by said electromagnet to vibrate said hammer and diaphragm.

3. A signaling horn including a cylindrical casing having a face plate, rearwardly extending ears for said casing, a diaphragm secured at the front of saidy face plate, a U-shaped electromagnet having its yoke end secured adjacent to the rear of said face plate intra-peripherally to said diaphragm and having the open ends of the pole pieces converging and extending rearwardly, a at retractlle spring attachedy at its opposlte ends to said ears, an armature for said electromagnet attached to said spring and mounted opposite the free ends of the pole pieces, and a hammer for said diaphragm adapted to be operated by said armature.

4. A signaling horn including a c lindrical casing outwardly flanged at its forward end and having' a rearwardly extending open cup, a diaphragm, a front cap and clamping screws for peripheral/ly clamping said diaphragm to the lfront face. -of the iange,l a

. U-shaped electrmagnet having its yoke end secured intra-peripherally adjacent to said diaphragm and having the open ends of the pole pieces converging and extending rearwardly, a retractile spring having its opposite-ends secured to the rearwardly open cup portion of said cylindrical casing, an armature carried by said retractile spring, a hammer, a member connecting saidhammer to said armature, and a removable rear cap for incasing said mechanism threaded upon the rear of said cup.

5. A signaling horn including a suitable face plate, a diaphragm peripherally secured to the front thereof, a Ufshaped electromagnet having its yoke end secured adjacent to the rear of said face plate`intraperipherally to said diaphragm and having the open ends of the pole pieces converging and extending rearwardly, an armature operatively related to the free ends of the pole pieces, and a hammer rod adjustably secured to said armature 'so as to partake of the same motion as the armature and resting adjacent to said diaphragm so as to produce a normal. opposing exure of said spring and diaphragm, said electromagnet operatspring suitably secured at its opposite ends,VL

an armature `for said electromagnet carried by said spring, a hammer rod adjustably supported by said spring and diaphragm so as to produce a normal opposing flexure of said spring and diaphragm, said armature being suitably supported in operative relation to said electromagnet whereby energizations thereof directly cause the hammer rod to vibrateA said diaphragm at a frequency'equal to the frequency of the operation of said armature, and means for adjustably fastening said hammer rod at one end to said retractile spring so that it will partake of the same relative frequency as said armature and diaphragm.

7. A signaling horn including a support, rearwardly extending members fastened at their forward ends to said support, a diaphragm Secured at the front of said support, a fiat retractile spring attached at its opposite ends to the rear ends of said members, a U-shaped electromagnet having its Iyoke end secured adjacent to the rear of said face plate intra-peripherally to said diaphragm and having the open ends of the pole pieces converging and extending rearwardly,l an armature or said electromagnet attached to said spring, the rear ends of said extended members being adapted to be p moved laterally so as to permit a greater amplitude of vibrations of said spring and armature, and means operatlvely connecting said armature and diaphragm.

8. A signaling horn including a face plate, a diaphragm peripherally secured to the front thereof, a U-shaped electromagnet having its yoke end secured adjacent to the rear of said face plate intra-peripherally to said diaphragm and having the open ends of the pole pieces converging and extending rearwardly, an armature for said electromagnet, a retractile spring for said armature, a hammer rod operatively related to said diaphragm armature and spring so as to produce a normal opposing flexure of said diaphragm and spring, and means for fastening said hammer rod at one end to said spring and armature, said electromagnet being in operative relation to said armature whereby energizations thereof attract said armature to directly cause the hammer rod to vibrate said diaphragm.

9. A signaling device including a mounting plate,-a diaphragm peripherally secured to the front thereof, a U-shaped electromagnet having its yoke end secured adjacent the rear of said mounting pla-te intra-peripheral to said diaphragm and having the open ends of the pole pieces extending rearwardly, a retractile spring suitably supported at its opposite ends, an armature for said electromagnet attached to said spring, an actuating member provided with an enlarged end portion for contact with said diaphragm, fastening means for securing said actuating member to said armature whereby said actuating member operates to vibrate said diaphragm in response to intermittent energizations of said electromagnet.

Signed by me at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, inthe presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM W. DEAN.

Witnesses:

GEORGE E. MUELLER, BEssrE OBRIEN. 

